Singapore offers J&K help in 'critical areas': Drabu

Jammu, Nov 21 (IANS) The Singapore government has offered technical support to Jammu and Kashmir for skill, riverfront development and water management, a minister said here on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu, who returned after a 3-day visit to Singapore said: “We held extensive deliberations with the Ministers, government officials and experts in Singapore on how best the expertise of that country could be utilized for capacity building in some critical areas in the state.

“Three key areas identified for collaboration include Skill Development, Riverfront Development and Water Management for which the Singapore government will be extending technical expertise”.

The Finance Minister said a Memorandum of Understanding would be signed between the concerned authorities in Singapore and the state to kick off the collaborative mechanism in the identified areas.

He said the Singapore government has already established a Skill Development Centre in Assam and has also signed an MoU with Odisha.

Drabu said as the state government is in the process of developing human and social capital for enhancing the capabilities of its youth this partnership will go a long way in fulfilling this objective.

He said similarly Singapore has made strides in Riverfront Development and Water Management under the country’s Waterfront Rejuvenation programme and replication of such a programme could help Jammu and Kashmir in speedy restoration and revival of its waterfronts.

“Singapore has a separate Master Plan for Water-based Activities in the country and a similar concept could be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir for rejuvenation of waterways and water resources,” the Finance Minister said.